Domaine Richaud, Cairanne
Country: France Region: Southern Rhône Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Riesling Category: Red Wine Color: Red
Producer: Domaine Richaud
"Domaine Richaud has a reputation for producing some of the finest wines in the Southern Rhône, characterised by bright fruit, superb balance and great drinkability. Marcel Richaud is the fifth generation of his family to make wine. Stylistically, he sees himself as having more in common with Burgundy's Côte d'Or than with what he describes as the over-extracted wines of the south.
Marcel's approach is very much a natural one, to allow the true expression of the fruit and vineyards to shine through in the glass. All 30 hectares of Richaud's meticulous vineyards are certified organic. The low-yielding, bush-trained Grenache (60% of plantings), Syrah (15-20%) and Mourvèdre (15-20%) vines are planted on poor soils and range from 40-70 years old on average. The wines have excellent concentration as a result.
The 2014 Terre de Galets is 35% Carignan, 32% Grenache, 16% Cinsault, 14% Syrah and 3% Mourvèdre. The wine is vinified in concrete tanks where it remains until bottling. It offers a lovely depth of colour with spicy fruit on the nose. On the palate it is well structured with grainy tannins and a blackberry fruit lift on the finish. Another blend, the Cairanne, is 30% Grenache, 28% Carignan, 24% Mourvèdre and 18% Syrah. 60% of the wine is fermented in tank and the rest in 600 litre oak barrels. Marcel never uses new oak and bottles the wine without fining or filtration to keep as much of the fruit character as possible. On the palate, the Cairanne displays the full fruitiness of the Grenache and the wilder character of the Mourvèdre."
Product Features: Certified Organic;Sustainable;Vegan;Vegetarian
Winemaker: Marcel Richaud
Vineyards:
The vineyards cover 30 hectares outside the village of Cairanne, on the road to Rasteau in the Côtes du Rhône. The vines are bush-trained and low yielding and range from 40-70 years old on average, which gives excellent concentration to the wines. Yields are approximately 30-35 hectolitres per hectare. The soil in these vineyards is rocky and poor, encouraging the roots to grow deep down into the ground, which gives excellent access to water reserves in this dry climate, as well as nutrients to keep the vine nourished. Marcel chooses fruit for this wine carefully, from three small vineyards: Chantal, Combes, Beauchières and La Ridel to ensure very high quality in the wine. He grows his Cairanne grapes both organically (this wine is certified organic) and biodynamically to ensure that the vineyards are kept as healthy as possible. A small amount (2%) of the local Counoise variety is also included in the blend.
Vinification:
60% of the wine was fermented in tank and the rest in 600 litre oak barrels held in Domaine Richaud's underground cellar. Winemaking is kept as natural as possible and Marcel never uses new oak. The wine remained in the cellar until bottling without fining or filtration, to keep as much of the fruit character as possible. Marcel adds no sulphur during the winemaking, with a tiny amount at bottling to ensure stability.
Tasting Notes:
The full bouquet is full of red fruit aromas. The palate displays the full fruitiness of the Grenache and the wilder character of the Mourvèdre. It is a rich, full-bodied wine with well-structured, supple tannins and a long, alluring finish.
Food Suggestion: Serve with a slow cooked fillet of beef, braised pork cheeks or lamb tagine.
Closure: Natural Cork ABV:14.5% Acidity [g/l]: 4.68 Classification: AOC
